Material agitating means



Nov. 22, 1938 E. s. BISSELL MATERIAL AGITATING MEANS Filed Aug. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV ENT OR. zz /erefi SIEZISSeZZ BY W4 4 M %z'$ ATTORNEYS Nov. 22, 1938 E. s. BISSELL MATERIAL AGITATING MEANS Filed Aug. 18, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I mereziaz ig i z/ BY W q r z ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 22, 1938 "PATENT OFFICE 2,137,328 MATERIAL AGITATING MEANS Everett s. Bissell, Irondequoit, N. Y assignor to Mixing Equipment 00., Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 18,

it Claims.

The present invention relates to material agitating and mixing means and embodies improved means for agitating, mixing, and circulating various materials either in fluid, solid, liquid, or

5 semi-liquid form such, for example, as food products, chemicals, paints, oils and various other materials. The invention has for its object to provide in apparatus of this class an improved agitating or 10 mixing device which can be readily and conve niently applied as a unit to a tank or receptacle containing the material to be acted upon and which is ofsimple construction, eflicient in service and economical to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of the class described an improved bearing structure for the agitator shaft, embodying novel and eflicient means for preventing the liquid or fluid contained in the tank from coming in contact with the bearings and injuring the same. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a tank or receptacle having a shaft extending inwardly through a wall thereof and provided therein with means for agitating or working the fluid and also provided with hearing means surrounded by a stufiing box extending from said wall within the receptacle and between which and the bearing means a sleeve is interposed and made fluid-tight on the shaft and for cooperation with the packing of the stufling box to protect the bearing means from fluid leakage past the packing. l

A further object of the invention is to soconstruct and mount the stufling box within the receptacle as to render the packing readily accessiblefrom the exterior of the receptacle, and also to mount the shaft bearing means for re moval outwardly from the sleeve carried by the shaft without breaking the seal between the sleeve and stufiing box.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid holding tank or receptacle having a shaft extending inwardly through a wall thereof and rotatable within a tubular supporting member detachably connected with the receptacle and.

having spaced inner and outer bearings disposed interiorly and exteriorly of the receptacle respectively, and in which arrangement the inner end of said tubular member is housed within a. sleeve fixed on and having a fluid-tight connection with the shaft and also having a bearing on said tubular supporting member, the sleeve being rotatable with the shaft and within a stufilng box extending from said wall within 1937, Serial No. 159,150

(!. ans-36.1)

the receptacle and cooperating with the sleeve to prevent escape of the fluid.

-A further object of the invention is to pro videan improved mounting structure for the shaft in which adequate support for the inner and outer bearings is. afforded and and the desired distance between the same maintained, and in which complete separation of the bearings from the stuffing box is provided for, the inner bearing being projected well into the tank to reduce the free overhang of the shaft to minimum.

A further object of the invention is to'provide a bearing structure of the class described, in which proper alinement of the bearings is maintained under all conditions of operation, regardless of any movement or'warping of the wall of the tank upon which themixlng unit is secured.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means by which the bearings of the structure may be readily and conveniently lubricated from the exterior of the tank, after the unit has been inserted within and connected with the tank.

v A further object of the invention is to provide an improved shaft bearing structure embodying comparatively few parts which can be readily assembled to form a unit and installed as such, and which can be economically constructed and maintained at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken through the-outer Walls of the mixer, including the stufiing box and the outer shaft supporting frame;

Fig. 3 is a. somewhat similar view, drawn to an enlarged scale and showing the various parts surrounding the agitator shaft in section;

I Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig; 5 is a detailed view of the tubular support for housing the shaft bearings;

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 6'6 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective of one of the elements for compressing the packing within the stufiing box.

inner lng,andmixingthematerialssueh,iorexample,

ll main ahodisposedwlthlnthestuilingboxllisit sleeveorc'ylinderll whichisflxedontheshatt it for rotation therewith in contact with the ot thestumngbox,:which serves to preventescapeof theiluidorliquidaroundthe sleeveandiromthetank. Thepackingmaybe nut 48 to seal the joint between the sleeve and,

the shaft, as shown in Fig. 3.

The tubular supporting member I; is provided with a longitudinally extending lubricant feed 41 closed at its inner end by a plug "a, said e communicating with an annular recess ll formed in said member in surrounding relation with respect to the bearing and also communicating with the transversely extending aperture ll of the bearing through which the lubricant is adapted to discharge to the interior of the bearing and to the shaft extending through the same. The lubricant is also adapted to be discharged from the e 41 to the exterior of the sleeve through a transverse aperture to the space between the bearing supporting member I! and the sleeve whereby to supply lubricant to the sleeve bearing 38. The supply passage 41 is normally closed by a screw plug 5i which may be removed when desired to permit the lubricant to be delivered to said e under pressure from a suitable supply source, not shown. Y

Lubricant may also be supplied to the outer shaft bearing 21 through a passage 52 formed in the outer end of the supporting member I! and communicating with an annular recess 53 surrounding the bearing which is in communication with the transverse apertures 54 formed therein, whereby lubricant is supplied to the interior of the bearing and to the shaft extending through the bearing. A screw plug 56 serves to normally close the e 52 but may be removed when desired to permit the lubricant to be supplied under pressure to said e.

The outer end of the bearing support Ii is provided with a recess 56 within which is disposed a thrust bearing 51 on the reduced portion 58 of the agitator shaft II. A thrust collar 59 is interposed between the bearing and a shoulder $0 of the shaft. A cover plate 6i serves to close the recess 56 and also forms a seat for the thrust bearing 51, said plate being secured in position bythebolts t2. Athrustcollar i3 isdisposed on the reduced portion 58 of the shaft in engagement with the cover plate, said collar being held inpositionbyasetscrew 04, asshowninl 'ig. 3.

Communicating with the recess 56 containing the thrust bearing is a lubricant teed passage 65, which in turn communicates with the lubricant supply e 52 whereby a certain amount or the lubricant delivered to the passage 52 will find its way to the e it of the thrust bearing. A grooved pulley i6 is keyed on the reduced portion is or the agitator shaft for operation by an electric motor and suitable belts to be driven thereby, not shown.

From the present structure it will be noted that both the packing and bearings are rendered readily e from'the exterior of the tank. For example in the case of the packing, upon removal of the'nuts 36 from the bolts 3!, the compressor unit 3| may be moved outwardly on the tubularsupport Ii far enough to permit the sections of the unit to be separated and withdrawn through the openings ila o! the housing ll. Asmtabletoolmaythmbeinsertedwithin the casing 22 for engaging and withdrawing the packing ring sections therefrom and from the In the case of the main shaft bearings the latter maybe rendered accessible for removal by first removing the pulley and thrust hearing from the shaft and detaching the bolts l9 and moving the tubular section I outwardly through the housing l8. When this has been done the bearings 26, 21, and 38 can be readily removed and new bearings substituted therefor, each of which operations can be performed from the exterior of the tank and without disturbing the relationship of the shaft and its sleeve and the stuifing box surrounding the same.

Moreover the placing of the stuffing box within the tank and outside of and coextensive with the inner bearings serves to reduce the over-all length of the unit and permits the inner bearing to be projected well into the tank, whereby to reduce the free overhang to a minimum and whereby the desired distance between the bearings may be maintained and adequate support for the shaft provided for, not to mention the fact that the propeller may be located at a distance from the wall of the tank at which it will operate mostv effectively.

Furthermorethe means provided for preventing the escape of the fluid or liquid from the tank or to the shaft bearings, including the sleeve 28 and the packing in contact with which it retates and the lead seal 44 surrounding the shaft Within the reduced inner end of the, sleeve is adequate for the purpose provided. The protection of the bearings in the manner described is highly important and particularly so in cases where certain chemicals are to be circulated within the tank or liquids carrying abrasives in suspension, which if allowed to reach the bearings would injure the same.

The various parts of the unit, other than the propeller, may be readily assembled and inserted in osition within the tank and connected therewith, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The rigid construction of the unit and the means provided for connecting it with the tank, insures proper alinement of the bearings and other parts under all conditions of operation, and regardless of any warping of the tank wall upon which the unit is mounted.

While I have shown an agitating or mixing unit applied to a tank in which various materials may be circulated, agitated or mixed, it will be understood that the invention is not limited in use to mixing or agitating equipment, but may be employed in connection with other equipment such, for example, as pumps, steam boilers, propeller shaft mountings for boats, and various other installations in connection with which the invention may be found useful. a

It will be understood that the term working the fluid, employed in the claims, is intended to cover circulation, agitation, mixing, blending or conditioning the various materials to be acted Theseoperations it will be upon within the receptacle for whatever P 1 1 0 desired.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a shaft for extension inwardly through a wall of a. fluid holding receptacle, a sleeve having a. fluid tight connection with said shaft and extending outwardly in spaced relation thereto, a stuffing box between said sleeve and said receptacle with its packing accessible from the exterior of saidwall, and bearing means for said shaft extending into said sleeve and protected thereby from fluid leakage past said packing.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a shaft for extension inwardly through a wall of a receptacle containing the fluid, a sleeve surrounding the shaft and having a fluid-tight connec-' tion therewith and including a portion extending outwardly from said connection and in spaced relation to the shaft, 2. stufling box in surronding engagement with said sleeve portion with its packing acccessible through th outer end thereof and from the exterior of. the receptacle, supporting means for said shaft extending within said portion of the sleeve and protected by said sleeve from fluid leakage past said packing, and bearing means for the sleeve interposed between the latter and said supporting means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a shaft for extension inwardly through a wall of a receptacle containing the fluid; a sleeve surro nding the shaft and having a. fluid-tight connection therewith and including a portion extending outwardly from said connection and in spaced relation to the shaft, a. stufiing box in surrounding engagement with said sleeve portion with its packing accessible through the outer end thereof and from the exterior of the receptacle, a frame, a tubular support on said frame surrounding the shaft in said sleeve portion, and inner and outer bearings for the shaft within said tubular support and protected by said sleeve from fluid leakage past the packing, said inner bearing lying within said sleeve portion.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a shaft said sleeve and the other projecting therefrom,

said member having spaced bearings for the shaft, one within said sleeve portion for supporting the shaft at a point interiorly of the receptacle whereby to reduce the overhang of the shaft and another bearing for supporting the shaft at a point exteriorly of the receptacle, said supporting member and the shaft bearings carried thereby being protected by said sleeve from fluid leakage past the packing of the stuffing box.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a shaft for extension inwardly through a wall 'of a receptacle containing the fluid, a sleeve having a. fixed and fluid-tight connection with said shaft and including a portion extending outwardly from said connection and in spaced relation to said shaft, a stufling box in surrounding engagement with said sleeve portion, said stufling box having its packing accessible for removal through ed by said sleeve from fluidleakage past said packingandsaidsupportingandbearingmeans being detachably associated with'ssid shaft and stuiiing box without removal of either from the receptacle.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a shaft for extension inwardly througha wallof a receptacle containing the fluid, a sleeve surrounding the shaft and having a fluid-tight connection therewith and including a portion extending outwardlyfromsaidconnection andinspacedrelationtotheshaft,a stufiingboxinsurroundingengagement with said sleeve portion, a frame, a tubular supporting member for the shaft connected with the frame and extending therefrom into said sleeve portion, said tubular supporting member serving to engage and support the shaft at points both interiorly and exteriorly of the stufflng box, and gland means for said stuiiing box removable with the stumng box packing from the exterior of said receptacle.

'1. In apparatus of the class described, a shaft for extension inwardly through a wall of a receptacle containing the fluid, a sleeve surrounding the shaft and having a fixed and fluid-tight connection therewith and including a portion extending outwardly from said connection and in spaced relation to the shaft, a stuiling box in surrounding engagement with said sleeve portion,

a frame. a tubular supporting member for the shaft connected with the frame and extending therefrom into and spaced from said sleeve portion and having inner and outer bearings for the shaft, one within said sleeve portion and another disposed exteriorly thereof, a bearing for the sleeve interposed between the latter and said tubular support, said tubular support having a longitudinally extending lubricant feed passage mamas porting means, said bearing means being protectposed to liquid, a bearing for said shaft located on the inside of said wall close to said operating element, a rigid support for said bearing, a sleeve rotatable with said shaft and secured thereto in fluid-tight engagement therewith between said bearing and the operating element, said sleeve .extending in surrounding relation to the support overhung beyond the bearing, a rigid support for said bearing, a sleeve rotatable with said shaft and secured thereto in fluid-tight engagement therewith between said bearing and the operating element, said sleeve extending in surrounding relation'to the support and the bearing and protecting the bearing from access-by the liquid, 4

and a stufllng box containing packing arranged 'extemally of said sleeve and'between said sleeve and the wall, the packing being accessible from the exterior of the wall and the bearing and support therefor being arranged so that they may be withdrawn from the outside of said wall. 10. In apparatus wherein a rotatable shaft extends through a wall and is driven by means on the outside of the wall and has on its inner end an operating element exposed to liquid, a bearing for said shaft located on the inside of said wall close to said operating element, the shaft being overhung beyond the bearing, a rigid support for said bearing extending from the outside of said wall to said bearing, a sleeve rotatable with said shaft and secured thereto in fluid-tight engagement therewith between said bearing and the operating element, said sleeve extending in surrounding relation to the support and the bearing and protecting the bearing from access by the liquid, a stufling box containing packing arranged externally of the sleeve and between said sleeve and the wall, the packing being accessible from the exterior of the wall, and a lubrication conduit extending through said support from the exterior of said wall to the bearing.

EVERETT S. BISSELL. 

